This link is designed to eliminate the uncomfortable condition known as tank slap or high speed wobble occurring on rubber mounted models like Dressers and Road Kings. The main cause of this problem is “Rearsteer” which happens when the swingarm rubber mounts are compressing. When cornering, the suspension movement is side loaded and will nothing to prevent the swingarm from moving sideways the entire rear of the drive train. This results in the front trying to compensate or counter-steer. This condition is most noticeable in sharp turns, and amplified by both speed and rough road surfaces. The “Missing Link” keeps the engine centered in the frame and prevent compression of the rubber mounts. Made out of steel to prevent any flexing, the “missing Link” is sold with all necessary hardware with detailed photographic instructions. Call 336-526-2468 or visit Grandeur Cycle.

7 Responses to “Your Road King or Dresser Missing Link”

Glad to see “The Missing Link” from Grandeur getting into this much needed area with Ride Str8 and Tru Trac. Once installed and almost instantly you can tell the difference. The rear end will track better and once in a turn the bike will change lines without feeling rattled. This (or any upgrade like it) is such a big improvement. The addition of any of these devices will make a world of difference on handling of your bike.

Don’t forget or neglect the front end with new springs and emulators from Race Tech…makes as much difference with the front end as the “Missing Link”, Ride Str8 or Tru Trac does with the rear….FLEK S3895 with 15wt fork oil….cut the preload spacer so that it’s 1/2″ higher than the top of the fork tube.

all of those suggestons are awesome. but the final step at our shop is 18″ wheels and good rubber, the sidewall flex on the junk 16 inchers from harley also effect that wondering feeling by allowing the tall sidewall to roll over and the bike shifts slightly..its for a critical rider but we feel its worth it plus you lose some unsprung weight which helps everyhting in the whole motorcycle universe.

I have a True Track installed on my 2004 FLHTI and have to say it does every thing it is suppose to.
Though this is of a different design I sus[ect it would work as well. I would be interested in trying one and doing a Tech Article on it.
Rogue

After giving this article and these solutions more thought, I thought about what a rider’s normal reactions are when the bike gegins to wallow and rear steer. I would venture to say that 95% of the riders confronted with this common occurrence approach it with trail braking in the curve. This is applying the rear brake while still riding the curve. Once they feel that they are not correcting the situation quicly enough, they apply more pressure to the rear brake. Usually, the rear tire starts to slide at this point and they either release the brake to try to ride it out. Or, they they do a low side dismount. The uncertainty that this feeling of instability causes lends to many crashes. Most riders do not get the feeling of confidence that they can ride through a turn on a stock equipped bike.

Another tremendous improvement that any rider of the FLH series (whether it be a Road King or one of the other baggers) is replacement of the rear shocks. I neglected to add that earlier and I should have. I happen to prefer the Progressive shocks, but that is just my personal preference on a bagger.

If you are not noticing the need for any of these improvements on your bagger, you may have a much more conservative riding style than I do. In that case, check your mirrors often.

I think Rogue might be a good candidate to evaluate this product or all of the ones mentioned for that matter. He has good skills with a camera and with words.

Don’t forget the Dyna’s . My 2004 has well over 140,000 miles , stock speedometer , now an Autometer 160mph unit .
A Sputhe isolator system was installed and my 04 Dyna at 40,000 miles . Handling instantly improved , like a slot car .
Then added a Storz 55mm inverted front fork set-up and Caddy shocks.
This week we changed out the rear mag and installed a 17″ aluminum spoked rear wheel s from Black Bike, yet another vast handling improvement .
Almost forgot , changed out the stock rotors 2000 miles ago and installed a set of composite w8lessrotors , now the un-sprung weight theory enters the equation . With the tire on the ground extreme handling and stopping have been achieved . All this on a stock chassis Dyna .
With an R&R 124 ” fuel injected Twin Cam set-up , this combination is hard to beat .
Rear steer is non-existent .
Runs and rides like your basic rocket .